Another counter lady points me toward a wall of doors that lead to several meeting/conference rooms (which any Wake County group can use for free–just sign up in advance like the those industrious computer occupants have done). Through one door I see a woman gesturing, talking, instructing. She stands before a table laden with beautiful sculpted, collage and painted works of art that look like they used to be . . . . books.  This must be the place! 

If you don’t know where I am by now, then you need to be reminded of that tall, two story building in Cameron Village.  Now, you don’t need to be told about Cameron Village; you know that fun, 50′s sort of walkable shopping center– a shopping center! Right there practically in the middle of the city! Thriving, in spite of surrounding malls and suburban shopping center sprawl!  Don’t stop and shop yet.  Keep going, past Fresh Market, to the end of Clark Street.  That tall, two-story building?  The library?  You remember.

Oh, stop rolling your eyes and saying Geesh, a library?  First a movie theater and now a library?  Because this library–Cameron Village Library–did something extraordinary last week, quietly and without fanfare or splash (because it is the kind of thing they do all the time) this library introduced to about 20 people (for free!) an art form that is the latest hottest thing, an underground art movement, in other cities, spreading faster than kudzu roots; a new kind of art that several well known artists have taken up, whose amazing creations are now on display at MOMA in NYC and the like.   

I walk into the room. Immediately I’m aware of a bustling busy-ness at the several long tables, and realize the workshop already started, so I apologize to the instructor for being late and turn toward one of the tables to take a seat.  I stop, horrified.  People are tearing up library books.  They are furiously ripping the pages right out of books! As fast as they can, they rip pages and toss them on the floor.  Am I in the wrong room after all?  Did I misunderstand the tiny notice I spotted while scanning the A & E section as I do every week, searching for the unusual happening, the barely known but awesome band or writer or artist coming to Raleigh? That miniscule listing, entitled “Transform Old Books into New Art” had snagged my attention. Last winter, in Tucson, I saw artists of all sorts–sculptors, painters, print makers, multimedia artists–all of them applying their particular skill to make what is called “Altered Books.” 

This is the right place, the teacher says, laughing. She is Tracy Johnson, the manager of Panopolie, a beading store in Raleigh.  She says she instructed the class to rip out pages–to remove around 40 % of the book.  This is how you start an “Altered Book.”  Take an old book that has committed no crime other than to become very outdated and very unread, and is now sentenced to the landfill with about a hundred of its buddies (and that’s just in this room alone for this class; tons of them go into the landfill all the time) and you rip out a bunch of its pages, to make room for what you do to the remaining pages: you will paint, collage, pierce, fold, cut, twist, tie, punch, lace, sculpt, bind, glue, stitch, any thing at all, whatever your vision and artistic eye leads you to do.  And this former book is not only rescued from certain death; it becomes art, your art.

For two hours last Thursday, at no cost, I made an altered book, thanks to Cameron Village Library and Panopolie (in addition to beading supplies, the store sells material for book arts, and is starting to offer classes in altered books and handmade journals, taught by Dawn who brings this new art form to Raleigh all the way from her former city–New Orleans).

Coming up (for free!) at Cameron Village Library:

MYSTERY AUTHOR PANEL DISCUSSION June 5  at 6 PM, famous writers right here!

LOCAL AUTHOR PANEL DISCUSSION June 10 at 2 PM  More famous writers (of the local literary sort)

PRESS 53 PUBLISHING Sunday June 3 at 2:30 PM: a successful small press in Raleigh and the authors they publish will talk about writing, getting into print, etc.

So, turn off your 500 Cable/Satellite TV/Radio set, get off your $100 month phone/broadband digital gadgets and visit this sunlit spot with free books, free wifi, free computer use, free meeting space, free audiobooks, free workshops, free information on anything you want to know and I mean anything (and from far better sources than Google or Wikipedia).  That counter lady who knew what I wanted before I said it?  She is called a librarian.  Every librarian I have ever known loves to give information.  That is what they are there for.  Imagine.  A real person that is helpful, accurate, and kind; a human being with a talent for sensing what you want before you say it, the way a good auto mechanic just knows what your car needs by looking at it. This is healing stuff for people who are tired of automated menus and computerized programs that pretend to do what libraries really do. Get thee to the library.  Take a book cure.

The Colony Theater

Before Madstone, before Galaxy, before the idea of multiplex independent film cinema existed–back when the (still-great) art-deco Rialto was the only art house theater in Raleigh, the owner of the very same Rialto opened the Colony twin screen theater in an older real-type ordinary Raleigh suburban shopping center at Six Forks and Millbrook Rd, just outside the beltline (above North Hills, look for the Food Lion on your right).

The Colony is Raleigh’s unsung hero if a place can be a hero. Although from the outside it looks like the sort of theater that would have closed in some other city long ago when the multiplex giants took over, inside the Colony is an oasis. Everything from international and independent, little-known hard to find films, to popular indie sleeper films, shown on two wide screens in large auditoriums, with comfortable theater seating complete with cup holders, and most importantly excellent sound and lighting. In this theater, you will never fume because the film is out of focus, or the lights didn’t go off when the film began, making a glare on the screen so you can’t see the film, because the projectionist cares enough about film and about you, the viewer, to stay in the booth long enough to make sure everything works properly before running off (which I’m sorry to say is not the case elsewhere).

This kind of reliable care and attention over many years has been and continues to be due to the manager, Denver Hill, a former English major, a long-time fan of good cinema. He has been at the Colony for as long as I can remember, starting out as many do there, with a teenage-type job, then growing into a first-class manager who keeps his place running the way it should: brisk, courteous service, without sacrificing its unique comfy, laid back, “let’s just hang out” atmosphere. The Colony has about the most eager to please, friendliest crew I’ve ever seen in a theater, serving up draft and bottled beer, wine, and other beverages along with the usual movie snacks, and always with smiles and a welcoming attitude. There are plush arm chairs, plants, and an enormous sofa that is so welcoming, people often sink down into its softness and read from the great selection of books (yes, there’s a bookcase full of donated books with a sign that invites you to take one if you like, and/or donate one).

The Colony Theater

Other reasons to arrive early and lounge about: you will want to read the long, growing bulletin board that takes up an entire wall with community messages and happenings, and browse through the magazines and flyers on the counter below the bulletin board. Or view the art exhibited on the remaining walls by area artists. Or come early and ask that friendly crew about what is coming next; get questions answered about film, advice on what to see. They actually know lots and love to chat about movies and community events.

Which brings me to the unsung hero part (aside from just being an awesome place to see movies): what sets the Colony apart from other art house theaters is Denver’s and his girlfriend Michelle’s dedication to Raleigh’s nonprofit groups, helping their causes. For example, tomorrow night — grab your pen –

Tuesday May 22 at 7 PM —- MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW

The Colony is showing “Kundun”

– a rarely seen film by the acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, that tells the story of the Dalai Lama’s exile from Tibet. The score is by Philip Glass, the Oscar-nominated avant-garde composer. Don’t miss this opportunity to see an excellent Scorsese film you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Feel good knowing your $5 ticket price goes toward helping out the Kadampa Center, a Tibetan Buddhist community in Raleigh that needs funds for a new space.

Denver Hill has been doing this sort of thing for years, quietly, and never for his own glory, just wanting to help, welcoming community nonprofits who need space to view a film, hear speakers, raise funds; bringing together many of Raleigh’s groups around a film that ties into their cause, often packing the house, making the Colony not only a great place to gather and and view a film; but also an important force in the community.

It’s not all serious issue stuff!!

Denver loves to bring in favorite fun films, new 35 mm prints of classics, and runs movie events. Last week, we all enjoyed “Easy Rider”

Other fun films coming up:

June 20	The Dark Crystal
July 18	2001 A Space Odyssey
August 15	Temple of Doom

Only 5 Bucks for these great films! You can call for other feature film showings, and prices, plus any other info: 856-0111.

One final tiny treat: if you are a lifetime lover of movies, look down at the carpet. It’s so cute.

Coming up soon —- Reason #2

Try Crema; it is one of the newer businesses that have opened up along Fayetteville street in the revitalization of downtown.  They are open Mon-Fri 7 AM to 7 PM; Sat 7 AM to 10 PM; Sun 11 to 5 PM.  I want to hug them just for staying open after 5 on weekdays, and on Saturdays, as the most serious problem with coffee shops in Raleigh, is that they think no one wants coffee after 5 PM, so they all close at 5 or 6.  Show me a dead downtown and I’ll show you not a lack of night clubs, but a lack of diners, coffee shops, convenience stores that are open at night.  For night people, such as myself, who also drink coffee, this is a crime.  I have spent many early evenings walking around or driving around with friends looking for an open coffee shop.  As far as we can tell, there’s only Royal Bean (across from Meredith); New World Coffee House (Pleasant Valley and Glenwood); Cup A Joe (various locations), Third Place (Five Points, crowded and wireless is usually not strong enough, although coffee is!) and Helios (Glenwood South) catering to night people who drink coffee.  If you know any others, tell me (but not outside the Raleigh city line.  I’ll only go so far for coffee).  I favor Larry’s Beans coffee cause it is local and was fair trade organic before that was the cool thing to be; Third Place and New World have Larry’s. 

Crema on Fayetteville

Note–this is not meant to be a comprehensive detailed list of coffee shops good and bad.  It started out as a “Try Crema” — so try it.  If you want to add comments about your favorite coffee shop (in Raleigh) I’d love to hear.  No Starbucks or Caribou please; they are the number one and two highest profit-generating coffee chains in the world.  They can do their own advertising.

1. Strawberries!!! Local strawberries that taste like strawberries, not like cardboard. You’ll never eat strawberries from the grocery store again.
2. Support local farmers and get to know them. Walk up and down the aisle and at each stall they call out to you, holding out a strawberry for you to sample. You can sample strawberries until they all start to taste the same, then you decide which stall to buy from according to other factors like which one had the cutest farmer boy or girl, or the friendliest grandfather/granny or the best stories.
3. Get out of the rain and under the open shelter and just gaze around at bright red strawberries and tomatoes, red-skinned potatoes, green asparagus, peppers, beans, and loads of blooming flowers of all colors, heavenly smelling herbs, and tall plants/trees/shrubs that will make you feel like you are in someone’s garden. You can get close to nature without getting wet.
4. You know how you get a bag of spinach at the grocery vowing to eat better and be healthy, but of course you go right on eating unhealthy, quick and easy food on the run? And a week later that bag of spinach in the produce drawer of your refrigerator has turned to a dark green glob of seaweed smelling like dead fish? And you have to throw it out. Well, last weekend I bought a huge bag of spinach from a farmer at the market, and it is still very nearly in the same shape as when I bought it, an entire week later–not even limp or wilted, still tender-crisp. Yes, I should have eaten it sooner but I am about to cook it now.
5. How did it last so long? No, the farmers don’t add special preservatives–this is fresh non-processed food picked just this morning–it lasts longer because the produce you get at the grocery is already about a week old by the time you buy it.
6. Not only is this produce more patient than the grocery’s, waiting and holding off decay until you have time to cook it, it tastes better (especially if you eat it right away!)
7. Now, here are two special farmers that are only at the market on weekends and are worth the trip there alone!
• L F C Honey A family from Hillsborough that keeps bees without using chemicals, and sells the best tasting honey, royal jelly, beeswax candles, and skin care items they make themselves. Their two long-haired sons handle the sales at the market and will tell you all about their mom who makes the wonderful lavender scented hand cream and orange scented lip balm from beeswax, oils, and other natural ingredients. No petrol! And their dad who keeps the bees and makes the candles from beeswax. The LFC stand for Little Flying Cows! Get it? Bees are little flying cows that produce the great stuff this family farm makes for us.
• In the Red Farmstead Cheese You have to go into the long shed for this one. Another family farm from Chinquapin, raising goats and pigs organically, chemical-free, allowed to roam. Their stall has a table loaded with samples of the best goat cheese I’ve ever tasted, arranged from the mild-but-delicious flavored and/or herbed (try the blueberry!) to spiced so hot and fiery people bring their friends and challenge them to try the one at the far end. This is a happy tiny space; everyone nibbling samples and swooning and some screaming and laughing and sweating, begging for water. I took home the rosemary and garlic cheese. Now that did not stay in my refrigerator for a week like the poor spinach. That little gem disappeared quickly, gone in just two days. I’ll go back for more. They also sell bread, chemical free sausage, eggs, and other organic items they grow themselves.

Have fun!

Raleigh State Farmer’s Market
1201 Agriculture St.
Raleigh, NC  27603

One last word on Bickett: Come on, you all are taking the “local color” of the piece far too seriously. Just reread the first paragraph, if you still don’t get the point. It’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s not about Kings, it’s not about rock bands performing on schedule (by the way the tickets for Arcade Fire said 8, and by god, the opening band started at 8)—it’s about the Independent article and the quotes from Bickett’s owner. Raleigh as a whole was blamed for making the Bickett go out of business, and excuse me, I’m a part of Raleigh, and I will not be blamed or stand by and let the Independent- our only alternative newspaper that in my own opinion is so inaccurate and so sensationalized it is worse than the N & O [Editor's Note: As stated, the previous is the writer's own opinion, not a statement of fact. It is not necessarily the opinion of the other authors at Raleighing.]–mislead the public into thinking Bickett failed because we failed. No. Bickett failed because the owner or whoever ran the place failed. Come on, the article quotes the owner–and I’m paraphrasing her words here–it went under because she couldn’t get a license for an outdoor rock festival, and because the residents of Raleigh don’t buy art. Excuse me? We don’t? You mean we didn’t buy your art. That might suggest looking at why.

Anyway, I am here tonight to see the Physics of Meaning.  I’ve heard them on WKNC, and wanted to see them perform.  The opening band was due to start at 9 PM.  It is now 9:45, and no one is playing.  The last time I came here for music, a little over a year ago to hear a band from Asheville, the place was packed, but as I roamed the waiting crowd, talking to people, many were complaining and asking, when does the music start?  Why hasn’t it started yet?  Tonight there is a very small group here, and they all know each other.  They seem to be friends and family of the bands.  They seem to be having a small party amongst themselves.  I’m not sure this will be worth the long long wait, through two opening bands I’ve never heard of, to finally hear Physics of Meaning.  Maybe I am just tired.  Hmmm.  Outsiders are wandering in.  Clearly not with the party clique.  They look completely bewildered.  They are going from room to room with that look I’ve seen here before: asking themselves, what is this?  Why is this stuff on the walls? Why is there clothing for sale?  Where is the band?  Why isn’t there music?  Where is the bar?  (For those who have never been here–the actual bar is maybe about two or three yards long; Bickett offers a few varieties of beer and wine and liquor. Out of Guinness tonight).  The greatest thing about Bickett is the outdoor patio with beautiful Japanese lanterns and tables overlooking east Raleigh.  On a night like this–late spring, warmish with a cool breeze, low humidity–the patio is perfect.  However, Bickett has never served food, not even a package of peanuts, even though the many tables seem perfect for a restaurant (You cannot hear or see a band from out here, so tables are usually empty).  The friends and family have brought their own food:  cheese and crackers.  They also have brought a baby, the center of attention, dancing and squealing.  You know what Bickett Gallery is like?  It is like someone’s house.  Exactly like someone’s rec room or basement, with a teeny wet bar, where occupants are having over some friends.  Even the beautiful outdoor patio looks like someone’s backyard barbecue space, and the weird stuff on the wall–definitely the taste of individuals who live in this house.  Apparently there are some young musicians in the family–their friends and instruments are scattered here and there.  But the young musicians are more interested in talking to their friends, not playing.  Ever feel like you stumbled into the wrong house, the wrong party?  When Bickett closes, I hope someone fixes this place up, and turns it into what it really wants to be–a coffee shop, with simple food and great coffee and wireless internet (which Bickett already has, along with the tables outside, and comfy coffee shop style couches inside). 

Okay, it is now several days later–unfortunately, I just couldn’t stay.  The first band that finally went on around 10:30 PM, was pretty awful.  I went out on the patio and talked to two lone ladies having drinks.  Their first question to me?  "Have they started the music yet?"  Looked like they’d had many drinks waiting hopefully, and were now having many more to numb their disappointment and frustration.  I bought a Physics of Meaning CD, left (no Guinness, why stay?) and listened to them in my car on the way home.  Sorry I missed their show; I think they’d sound better live.

9/15/06 – The Lion King (Memorial Auditorium) – thru 10/22
9/17/06 – Carmen (Fletcher Theatre)
9/27/06 – Doc Watson – (Meymandi Hall) – Ticketmaster lists 9/23/06
10/05/06 – Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Memorial Auditorium)
10/07/06 – Tai-Yin Choir (Fletcher Theatre)
10/18/06 – Snow White (Fletcher Theatre)
10/27/06 – Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood (Memorial Auditorium)
11/3/06 – Adrienne Young & Little Sadie – (Fletcher Theatre)
11/12/06 – Carlos Mencia (Memorial Auditorium)
12/8/06 – Bluegrass Family Christmas Show (Meymandi Hall)
12/26/07 – Cirque Dreams (Memorial Auditorium)
1/13/07 – King Pup Radio Show – (Fletcher Theatre)
2/3/07  – Ricky Skaggs (Meymandi Hall)
2/10/07 – Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Dance Party (Memorial Auditorium)
2/21/07 – Kris Kristofferson (Meymandi Hall)
3/13/07 – Redneck Tenors (Fletcher Theatre)
3/30/07 – Tony Rice and Bryan Sutton
4/13/07 – Puccini’s La Boheme (Memorial Auditorium)
5/11/07 – Las Folkloristas – (Fletcher Theatre)

There are many more events, especially performances by the North Carolina Symphony and the North Carolina Theatre. Consult the venue’s complete schedule for more details.

The upper half of the building’s 5,400 square foot floors will only contain condo units. Most floors will only have 2 units per floor, but some floors will contain one large condo unit. Because it appears that the elevator core will contain just 3 elevators, my guess is that residents will share elevators with the Westin hotel guests on the lower floors. Presumably the floors above the hotel’s top floor will be keyed access, only. It will be interesting to see if the fire escapes have free access to the upper floors from the hotel floors.

Word we hear is that the official groundbreaking is set for October.

map it

The Bull has also added "Primetime With The Packman" (Mark Packer) to its daily lineup from 3pm-7pm. Packer’s show originates from Charlotte and was previously carried on 1090am. The bottom line with accepting this show is: don’t blame people for their relatives.

The two shows replace the Sporting News Radio Network’s James Brown and Tim Brando Shows on 620′s lineup. For those few who really care about the Brando show, it can still be heard on XM radio channel 143 (XM Sports Nation which, incidentally, replaced Sporting News Radio on that channel Monday).